“We were the beginning (the heads) of this Ummah, and perhaps a man from the best of the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the most righteous amongst them could maintain only one chapter of the Qur`an or thereabouts. For the Qur`an was weighty upon them, and they were given knowledge of it or action based on it. But the last of this Ummah will find the Qur`an light (and easy) – the child and the non-Arab will recite it, without possessing any knowledge about it.”

Abu Araaka رضي الله عنه narrates that he once performed the Fajr salaah behind Hadhrat Ali رضي الله عنه After the salaah, Hadhrat Ali رضي الله عنه turned to his right and appeared to be extremely troubled. Eventually, when the sun rose the length of a spear’s length above the Masjid wall, he performed two Rakaahs of salaah. Thereafter, he turned his hands over and said, “By Allaah I have seen the Sahabah of Rasulullaah and do not see the likes of them anywhere today.

In the mornings, their faces were pale, their hair dishevelled, their bodies covered in dust and between their eyes were the marks of prostration which resembled the marks on the knees of goats. Their nights were spent prostrating (in Sajdah) and standing before Allaah (in salaah). They recited the Book of Allaah (the Qur’aan) and would attain comfort by standing in salaah and making Sajdah. When the mornings arrived and they engaged in Dhikr, their bodies would move as the trees do when the gentle wind blows through them.

Their eyes would flow with tears until their clothing got wet as if they (were remorseful because they) had spent their nights in negligence.”

Thereafter, Hadhrat Ali stood up and was never again seen laughing quietly until he was martyred by the wicked enemy of Allaah, Ibn Muljim.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said: “On the night when the Messenger of Allah was taken on his Night Journey, he entered Paradise, in some part of which he heard a sound. He said, `O Jibril, what is this’ He said, `This is Bilal, the Mu’adhdhin.’ When the Prophet came back to the people, he said,

Some people from Quraish went to Abu Bakr and said, “Have you heard what your companion is saying He is claiming that he went to Bayt Al-Maqdis and came back to Makkah in one night!” Abu Bakr said, “Did he say that” They said, “Yes.” Abu Bakr said, “Then I bear witness that if he said that, he is speaking the truth.” They said, “You believe that he went to Ash-Sham [Greater Syria] in one night and came back to Makkah before morning” He said, “Yes, I believe him with regard to something even more than that. I believe him with regard to the revelation that comes to him from heaven.” Abu Salamah said, from then on Abu Bakr was known as As-Siddiq (the true believer).

“On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will gather the first and the last, then a voice will call out, `Whoever is owed something by another, let him come forth and take it.’ And a man will rejoice if he is owed something or had been mistreated by his father or child or wife, even if it is little. ”